This past summer (2001), two important developments have occurred
relevant to the public issue of possible hazards from ELF fields.
First, on June 27 the International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC) concluded that ELF magnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic
to humans (Group 2B), based on the statistical association of higher
level residential ELF magnetic fields and increased risk for
childhood leukemia. Second, in July, the California State EMF Program
issued a draft report that concluded that ELF magnetic fields are
"more than 50% possible" to cause childhood leukemia, adult brain
cancer, spontaneous abortion, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The
California report outlined a series of policy options anticipated to
cost $0.48-7.6 billion. This talk will outline the scientific basis
for the conclusions of these agencies and discuss possible
implications of the findings. Whether these reports represent a major
shift in scientific attitudes about possible health risks of
environmental ELF fields remains to be seen, but these statements, by
major health agencies, set new precedents whose implications need to
be examined carefully.